Refrigerating apparatus



L. A. PHILIPP REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Aug.i 18, 1936.

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Aug. 18, 1936.

INVENTOR, Lawa/snee Pff/1. /PP

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES v 2,051,302 REFBIGERATING APPARATUS Lawrence A. Philipp, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit,Mich., a corporation oi'A Michigan Application March 13,

11 Claims.

My invention pertains to refrigerating systems of the expansion type and more particularly to refrigerant ow controlling means therefor, and is an improvement upon the construction shown in my copending application Serial No. 728,514

led June 1st, 1934, which contains claims that dominate the present invention. 1

It is an object of my invention to provide regulating means for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant from the high side of an expansion refrigeration system to the low side comprising a. liquid receiving chamber for receiving and storing liquid refrigerant from the compressor, an open top bucket float in the chamber, a valve actuated by the iioat for discharging liquid refrigerant therefrom, and syphon means arranged for intermittently charging the bucket oat with a quantity of refrigerant from the chamber which is thence discharged into the evaporator.

It is also an object of my invention to provide for such a system a refrigerant flow controlling means wherein a ilow controlling valve piston is actuated by and guides the movements of an open top bucket float which carries a syphon in its side Wall for charging the float from an enclosing chamber.

Another object of my invention is to provide for systems of the above type a refrigerant flow controlling means comprising a. liquid storing chamber enclosing a bucket float having a restricted upwardly projecting portion and a valve actuated by the movements of the float for discharging liquid therefrom in conjunctionv with a. syphon disposed in the restricted portion for charging the float from the chamber.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a refrigerating system of the above type with refrigerant flow controlling means between the high side and the low side comprising mea'ns for intermittently discharging stored quantities of liquid refrigerant to the low side and having associated means for conducting refrigerant vapor from the low side in heat exchange relation with the stored liquid refrigerant for subcooling it prior to its discharge to the low side.

The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view showing a section of my refrigerant ow controlling means and diagrammatically representing an associated refrigerating system regulated thereby; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the refrigerant regulating device.

Referring more specically to Fig. l of the 1935, Serial No. 10,910

drawings the apparatus comprises a refrigerant compressor I I for drawing refrigerant vapor from an evaporator I3 condensing the same, and compressing it through a suitable condenser I5 where its latent heat of vaporization is dissipated and the vapor is condensed to a liquid. The compressor Il may be driven by an electric motor I1 which is energized from service line conductors LI and L2 through the contacts I8 and I9 of a thermostatic snap acting switch 2| which is actuated in response to the temperature variations of the evaporator by a thermobulb 28 disposed adjacent thereto and connected with the switch through a suitable conduit 2b.

For controlling the flow of liqueedrefrlgerant from the condenser coils I5 to the evaporator I3 my flow controlling device 26 is connected therebetween. 'I'he flow controlling device comprises a liquid receiving chamber or valve casing 21 which may consist of a substantially cylindrical 20 sheet metal shell which is closed at the bottom and open at the top. The open top of the valve casing 21 is closed by a cover plate 29 which is of relatively heavy construction and is clamped securely thereon by nuts 3| threadably engaged upon bolts 33 which project through the cover 29 from the shell 21. If desired a suitable resilient material or gasket may be introduced between the upper edge of the shell 21 and the cover 29 to provide a hermetically tight seal therebetween in. a well known manner.

In order that conduit means 35 extending from the refrigerant condenser I5 may be conveniently connected to the flow controlling device 26, a suitable pipe fitting 31 is inserted through the wall of the valve chamber 21 to which it may be hermetically secured in any suitable manner, as by welding for example.

The outlet connection from the ow controlling device comprises a conduit 39 threadably supported in the cover plate 29 from which it projects downwardly into the chamber. The upper end of the outlet conduit 39 is provided with a suitable pipe. fitting 4I for connection with the refrigerant distributing line 43 vwhich extends to the evaporator I3. A downwardly inclined baille 99 is secured on the inside of the casing 21 above the inlet fitting 31 to deflect the entering refrigerant downwardly away from the upper portion of the float. The outlet conduit/39 is provided with an enlarged portion providing a shoulder 43 below the threaded portion for abutting the lower surface of the cover 29.

Within the chamber 21 I provide a bucket float 45 Acomprising acup shaped member which carries a, valve piston member 41 rigidly secured to the bottom thereof and projecting upwardly into the lower end of the depending outlet conduit 39 which opens adjacent the bottom of the float. The bucket float may be of sheet metal o0 to the bottom of which the valve piston 41 may be secured in any suitable manner as by a nut 48 threadably engaged on aL small threaded portion of the piston 41 which extends through the bottom of the float. The upper end of the valve piston is tapered for cooperatively engaging an annular valve seat 49 which is disposed within a restricted portion 5I of the outlet conduit. 'I'he aperture above the valve seat 49 and the restricted portion 5I is suitably expanded to provide for efhciently conducting the discharged refrigerant to the line 43 which is the low side of the system.

The valve piston 41 is smaller than the inside diameter of the conduit 39 in which it is slidably received to provide suiiicient space therebetween for the passage of refrigerant, and at its lower end the aperture in the conduit is substantially enlarged to receive an annular guide ring 53 which is adapted to fit the valve piston 41 in snug guiding relation while permitting free movement thereof. The guide ring 53 is provided with numerous perforations 55 lto permit the liquid refrigerant to iiow freely into the lower end of the conduit 39 when the valve is opened. The length of the valve piston member 41 and the position of the valve seat 49 within the conduit are so arranged that the valve is open when the float 45 is in its lowest position in the valve casing chamber 21, and when the float 45 is buoyed up by the liquid in the chamber its movement upwardly is limited by the engagement of the tapered end of the valve piston with the valve seat, which thereby closes the valve and restricts the admission of the refrigerant liquid to the outlet conduit 89.

For charging the bucket float 45 with liquid refrigerant from the liquid receiving valve chamber 21 I provide a syphon conduit 51 comprising a substantially U shaped conduit which passes through a side wall of the float in inverted position. One leg 59 of the syphon conduit 51 extends down the outside of the oat 45 and the other leg 9| projects down the inside thereof to a lower level. A piece of metal 53 is secured to the outer sidewall of the oat diametrically'opposite the syphon to counterbalance the weight thereof on the oat.

In operation the compressor II is intermittentlyactiiated by the thermostatic switch 2l to supply sumcient refrigerant to maintain the temperature adjacent the'evaporator I3 within a predetermined range. As the liquefied refrigerant passes down from the condenser coils- I5 through the conduit 35 it accumulates in the valve chamber 21 where it lifts the bucket float 45 therebyclosing the valve.. As the .level of the liquid continues to rise in the valve chamber, it primes the syphon 51 when it is level with the loop thereof. After the syphon has thus been automatically primed the liquid flows from the chamber 21 into the float 45 which loses buoyance and when it has been charged with a certain quantity of the liquid sinks to the bottom of the valve casing 21, thereby opening the needle valve 41, 49.

The syphon continues to operate until the level of liquid within the outer valvel chamber 21'has been reduced to a position adjacent the lower end of the adjacent syphon leg 59. The opening of the valve 49 discharges the charge of liquid refrigerant from the bucket iloatinto the outlet conduit 39 from which it passes through the low side line 43 to the evaporator. I3. The float then gains buoyance and lifts the valve dumping action float is obtained which requires v no weight feed valve at the evaporator.

For subcooling the quantity of liquid refrigerant stored in the valve chamber and the bucket oat an annular jacket member 1I of sheet metal is secured around the lowerv portion of the valve casing 21 and comprises a substantially cylindrical sheet metal member closed at one end and open at the other end. The jacket member 1I is of a diameter substantially larger than that of the valve c-asing 21 over which it is disposed in concentrically spaced relation and to which the upper edge is hermetically secured in any suitable manner, as by welding. A pipe tting 13 is inserted through the upper wall of the jacket 1I for convenient connection with the suction line 15 extending from the evaporator I3. A second pipe tting 11 is inserted through the jacket wall at a position preferably adjacent the bottom thereof for convenient connection with the suction line 19 which extends to the compressor II.

The cold refrigerant vapor withdrawn from the evaporator I3 is thus conducted in intimate heat 'exchange relation around the lower portion of the valve casing 21 and efliciently sub-cools the quantity of liquid refrigerant stored therein.

In accordance with another embodiment of my invention the bucket float for controlling the valve has an annular upper wall 8l provided with a restricted neck portion 83 projecting upwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment of my invention, a syphon 85 is disposed through the wall of the neckportion 83 of the oat, and the float is charged with liquid when its level in its outer casing 21 rises to a relatively high level above the syphon 85 in the neck of the float. With this arrangement, as in that previ.- ously described, the outer projecting leg 81 of the syphon 85 is preferably shorter than the other leg 89 -of the syphon which projects down to a lower level within the float.

In accordance with this embodiment of my invention a tubular guide member 9| is rigidly secured to the bottom of the oat, in any suitable manner, and rises therefrom in concentrically disposed relation around the outside of the outlet conduit 39 where it serves to guide the movements of the float. A valve piston member 93 is secured to the tube guide member 9| by means of a suitable cross pinl 95 extended therethrough. The liquid refrigerant is admitted to the lower end of the guide tube 9I through apertures 91 therein adjacent the bottom of the float.

In this embodiment the valve piston 93 serves only to regulate the flow of liquid refrigerant from l the float, and the tubular guide member 9| coopand eliminating the diiilculties prevalent in the refrigerant flow controlling arrangements comprising small orifices for metering the flow of refrigerant from the high side to the low side of the system.

Aside from the specic embodiments of the invention herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the-invention as disclosed and claimed, and that I do not desire to limit the invention to the exact constructions herein set forth.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination in a refrigerant flow controlling device, a liquid storing'chamber, an inlet port therein for receiving refrigerant, a. bucket float in'said chamber, conduit means opening ad' jacent the bottom of said iloat and arranged for restriction by the motion of the float as it is vlifted by liquid in the chamber, and a syphon for charging the oat with a quantity of liquid from the chamber.

2. In combination in a refrigerant flow controlling device, a liquid storing chamber, an inlet port therein for receiving refrigerant', a bucket oat in said chamber, conduit means opening adjacent the bottom of said iloat and arranged for restriction by the motion of the float as it is lifted by liquid in the chamber, said conduit means also serving to limit the upward movement of said float, and a syphon carriedby said iioat for charging the float with a quantity ofliquid from the chamber.

3. In combination in a refrigerant flow controlling device, a liquid storing chamber, an inlet port therein for receiving refrigerant, a .bucket float in said chamber, conduit means opening adjacent the bottom of said iioat and arranged for restriction by the motion of the `fldat as it is lifted by liquid in the chamber and a syphon-for charging said float with a quantity of liquid from n the chamber comprising a substantially U shaped conduit projecting thr'ough one wall of said iioat in inverted position with a short leg extending down the outside of said wall and a longer leg projecting down the inside of said wall.

4. In combination n a refrigerant flow controlling device, a li d storing chamber, a bucket float themima conduit depending into said float and opening@ adjacent the bottom thereof, a valve associated with said conduit for restricting -ow therein comprising aslidable valve piston secured to the bottom of said iloat for actuation thereby while guiding the float inits movements in the chamber, said valve piston also'llmiting the uppermost position of the iloat in the chamber, a

syphon conduit inserted through a side wall of said float andhaving downwardly projecting legs on opposite sides thereof. v 5. In combination in a refrigerant flow controlling device, a liquid storing chamber, a bucket iioat therein'said float comprising an open top cup shaped vessel, a conduit depending into said float and opening adjacent the bottom thereof, a valve associated with said conduit for `restricting flow therein comprising a slidable valve piston secured to the bottom of said iloat for actuation thereby while guiding the iioat in its movements in the chamber, said valve piston also-limiting the uppermost position of the float in the chamber, a syphon-conduit inserted through a side wall of i .1 said float for charging thefloat with a quantity of liquid from the chamber comprising a substantially U shaped conduit disposed in inverted position with a short leg extending down the outside of said wall and a longer leg projecting downthe inside of said wall. i

6. In combination in a refrigerant ow'controlling device, a refrigerant receiving chamber, a bucket float therein, having 'a restricted portion extending upwardly in open relation with the interior of the float, a conduit member depending through said restricted portion into said float and opening adjacent the bottom thereof, and a syphon disposed through the wall of the' 'restricted 7 portion of said float for charging theiloat with' I a quantity of liquid from said chamber.

'1. In combination ina refrigerant flow controlling device, a refrigerant4 receiving chamber,

a bucket float therein having a restricted por. 'l

` tion extending upwardly in open relation with the interior of the float, a conduit member depending through saidrestricted portion into saidiloat and opening adjacent the bottom thereof, a tubular guide slidably `disposed in concentric relation around said conduit member and secured at its lower end to the bottom of said float, an open portion provided in the lower end of said tubular guide, a valve piston slidably disposed in the. lower end of said conduit for actuation by said oat.

8. In combination in a refrigerant ilow con, trolling device, a liquid storing chamber, a valve in said chamber, oat actuating means responsive to the level of liquid in the chamber for intermittentlyactuating said valve to dischare quantities of liquid therefrom, and a jacket disposed in intimate thermal coupled relation around the lower portion of said chamber. t 9. In combination in a refrigerant flow controlling device, a liquid storing chamber, a bucket float in said chamber, a valve actuated thereby for discharging liquid therefrom, a syphon for intermittently charging said float with liquid from said chamber to actuate said valve,` and a jacket disposed in intimate thermal coupled relation around the lower portion of said chamber.

t. 10.- A reirigerating system comprising a re.. e

frigerant evaporator, a refrigerant compressor ggr withdrawing refrigerantvapor-fromsaid evs.` rator condensingv the same and supplying liquid refrlgerant'thereto, a refrigerant flow4 controlling device interposed between said compressor-and evaporator comprising a liquid storing chamber,`

thereby for discharging liquid therefrom, a syphonfor intermittently charging said float with liquid from said chamber to actuate said valve, and a jacket disposed in intimate thermal'coupled relation around the lower portion of said chamber, and conduit means for passing the discharged quantities of refrigerant to said evaporator and thel withdrawn refrigerant vapor through said jacket. e

11. A refrigerating system comprising a refrigera'nt evaporator, a refrigerant compressor for Vwith-drawing refrigerant vapor therefrom, condensing thesame, and supplying liquid refrigerant thereto, interconnected ilow controlling means for regulating the ilow of liquid refrigerant to said evaporator comprising a liquid storage chamber, a bucket float in said chamber, a valve actuated thereby for discharging liquid therefrom and a syphon carried by said oat for chargi .ing the sm with liquid from said chamber whereby the valve is intermittently actuated to discharge quantities of refrigerant to said evaporator. v

LAWRENCE A. PHILIPP.

a bucket oat in said chamber, a valve actuated 

